Blurred Vision

My vision this past week has been far from 20/20. As I look back, all I see is a cloud of dust where we once were. My driveway has had so much come-and-go traffic in the past four days, I can faintly see tire tread marks in the cement. And all the tire tread marks can be traced back to my very own vehicle.

All of this, due to the fact that my children started school on Monday.These are the things I know for sure:

*School starts sharply at 7:55 am.

*We must leave our house promptly at 7:20 am to snatch a parking space in order to walk the kids to class.

*Their class is held in the northern most classroom on the school property.

*School is excused at 1:55 pm.

*I must leave my house promptly at 1:15 to snatch a parking space in order to pick the kids up.

Other than those facts....it's all a blur!

I'm still trying to figure out how my kids can come home from school with more energy than the Tazmanian Devil after a triple shot of espresso, while I need the mother of all naps.

I'M EXHAUSTED!!!

And I thought this whole going to school things was going to free up my days and give me the time I needed for myself. I'm about as tired as I was almost five years ago when I had three infants drinking bottles around the clock!

I'm sure in time I will grow accustomed to the routine of getting the kids to school and picking them back up, but until then, I'm the one who's begging for the afternoon nap!

Is it almost summer yet? NOT!!!

A New Chapter Begins

Dear Angel, Isaac, and Bella,

Tonight I put the three of you to bed with a sense of sadness, yet excitement for you, as tomorrow you will begin a new chapter in your lives. You, my three sweet babies, my pride and joy, will embark on a new adventure...kindergarten!

Although I have dreamed of this very day, some peace and solitude in my very own home, I am choking back tears as I imagine how life is going to change, not only for you, but for me as well.

For you see, you will always be my babies, and I will forever feel the need to shelter and protect you.

How on earth will I make sure you wash your hands before you eat?

And who is going to make sure you finish all of your lunch before heading off to play?

More importantly, how am I going to make sure that you are being treated fairly by those around you?

Five years can't possibly have been enough time to teach you all that you need to know before heading off to school. In fact, I can't believe that it has even been nearly five years since I have been blessed with each of you!

Although I know you are more than ready to begin this chapter, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that you will succeed beyond my wildest dreams, I'm having a hard time letting you go!

Who is going to dump every single dinosaur and transformer out on the floor and then baulk when it is time to clean them all up?

When will you possibly have time to antagonize one another, until someone throws up their arms in a fit of rage?

What famished children will I dish snacks out to all day?

Angel, Isaac, and Bella...I love you more than words could ever express! I'm looking forward to this turn of a page into the next chapter of our lives where we can make even more wonderful memories.

And no matter what....you will ALWAYS be my babies!

With cuddles and kisses,

Your Mommy

xoxox

Things we loved...

...about New York:

The great food.

The fact you could drive 15 minutes into New Jersey and buy cheaper gas...AND by law an attendant has to pump it for you!!!

Dunkin' Donuts.

The fact that you could paint your house purple, and it fit in perfectly!The beautifully, green, lush "thru-ways."

Dunkin' Donuts.

The architecture of the homes...especially the wrap around porches!

Almost every public bathroom was equipped with automatic water faucets, automatic hand soap dispensers, & automatic paper towel dispensers. I almost felt compelled to let my girls go it alone in the bathroom. If only they had automatic opening doors so they didn't have to touch the door handles!

Dunkin' Donuts.

The fact that all four of my kids could ride on a carousel for $2.00, while in California EACH kid pays $2.00 to ride on a carousel!

Visiting with family and friends! And again, Dunkin' Donuts. To be perfectly honest, I did not partake in Dunkin' Donuts, but they are my husband's favorite, and because of that, my kids have become fans as well. They pointed out each and every Dunkin' Donut shop. And let me tell you, they are everywhere!

Number one reason we were glad to return home:

Not one of those fancy, automatic public restrooms offered @**-gaskets for protecting the fanny from toilet seat germs! Big no-no!!!

That was enough for me to throw in the towel and ask for help!!!

Some thoughts about the airport...

Whoever came up with the 50 pound weight limit for each piece of check-in luggage--I'd love to wring your neck!!!

You were the cause of much embarrassment for me!

It was nearly as embarrassing as that time I sent the brightly wrapped tampon flying from the depths of my purse while rummaging for my car keys. Most embarrassing was the fact that I was in the midst of hundreds of college students who were storming the pedestrian bridge, in a hurry to vacate school for things more entertaining. While they were storming, they were kicking the tampon from one side of the walkway to the other.

How lucky for me that the suitcase that weighed 9 pounds over the 50 pound limit was the suitcase with mostly my clothes in it.

And how lucky for me that my darling husband happened to place my extra-padded-strapless-water-bra smack-dab on top of the packed suitcase.

So when the airline employee asked us to rearrange our luggage to evenly distribute the weight, my strapless bra was catapulted from the scale to the floor ans back behind the counter.

And how lucky was I that my dear father-in-law was the one fumbling and rebounding my unmentionables?

It probably crossed his mind that had I been wearing my extra-padded-strapless-water-bra I could have saved myself much embarrassment, for clearly it weighed nearly 9 pounds!

* * *

And if that wasn't a scene enough, I continued my show upstairs.

Irate that the grumpy airline employee wouldn't pre-board passengers with young children, onto a flight already 2 hours delayed, my assertive husband and his equally assertive parents, began to demand justice. The show my children put on previously for our fellow weary, waiting passengers had nothing on this. With a line 200 yards long, the employee explained for the umteenth time that we must move aside, as it wasn't yet our turn. And as if to add insult to injury, we didn't have our paper tickets.

Blame was placed on the sweet employee who checked us in-and inadvertently handled my flying bra. She must have mistakenly kept our paper tickets. The scene played round and round like a skipping movie on a DVD player.

We were SURE--we were not in possession of the paper tickets.

And then, as if a voice from above told me to reach into my purse, I wrapped my fingers around-PAPER TICKETS---all 8 of them!

I considered keeping a secret, but I wasn't willing to be the cause of any further commotion or delay. By the looks I got, I was sure that there was never a moment where my husband wanted to disown me more that he did at that moment!

All Tuckered Out

Apparently, New York is tuckering us out! Two nights in a row, kids ran out of steam at the restaurant dinner table. (That may be because dinner is taking place around 9:00 pm each night!)Not too surprising, Annie caught up on some shut-eye at the Saratoga Race track, while hundreds of bettors cheered on their horses.And as Mark put it, in the bedroom where the kids are resting their heads for the nights, it looks like someone grabbed a handful of children and tossed them into the room. They have made use of every square inch of the room!
We'll be ready for a vacation to rest from our vacation!!! I'm EXHAUSTED too!